James then asked if he'd re-join the Conservative Party, he said: "It's got to be a damned good deal. But it's a possible. We shall see.

"Douglas Carswell still has time to do a deal. I'm a fighter. Douglas Carswell is not a fighter."

When asked the key question about whether the Tories had contacted him, he was suddenly struck by bad phone reception, claiming: "Sorry, you're breaking up due to the wind. Sorry about that, I'll have to hang up now. Take care."